With Randy Jones pitching in his old form, the Padres blanked the Braves, 2-0, to snap a four-game losing streak. Atlanta pitcher Phil Niekro set the Padres down in order in seven innings but walked Dave Winfield to begin the fifth. Oscar Gamble beat out an infield hit and, after Bill Almon filed out, Ozzie Smith grounded out as the runners moved up. Bob Davis followed with a single to center to drive in the game's only runs.

Rollie Fingers replaced Jones for the Padres in the ninth with runners on second and third and one out. The ace reliever got Brian Asselstine on a slow roller in front of the plate and Jeff Burroughs on a liner to right. [The Sporting News]



San Diego Padres 2, Atlanta Braves 0
Game Played on Thursday, April     20, 1978 (Day game) at San Diego Stadium
Braves       0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0  -   0  3  0
Padres       0  0  0    0  2  0    0  0  x  -   2  2  2


Braves               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Padres               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Royster 2b            4   0   1   0     0   0   .324      Richards 1b           3   0   0   0     0   2   .184
Bonnell cf            3   0   0   0     0   0   .214      Thomas 2b,lf          3   0   0   0     0   1   .324
Gaston rf             3   0   0   0     0   1   .063      Hendrick cf           3   0   0   0     0   1   .222
  Asselstine ph       1   0   0   0     0   0   .357      Winfield rf           2   1   0   0     1   1   .300
Burroughs lf          4   0   0   0     0   0   .256      Gamble lf             3   1   1   0     0   0   .206
Pocoroba c            3   0   1   0     0   0   .345        Champion 2b         0   0   0   0     0   0   .250
Murphy 1b             3   0   0   0     0   1   .132      Almon 3b              3   0   0   0     0   1   .242
Gilbreath 3b          3   0   0   0     0   0   .222      Smith ss              3   0   0   0     0   0   .222
Rockett ss            3   0   1   0     0   0   .125      Davis c               3   0   1   2     0   0   .182
Niekro p              1   0   0   0     0   0   .143      Jones p               3   0   0   0     0   1   .167
  Beall ph            0   0   0   0     1   0   .000        Fingers p           0   0   0   0     0   0   .000

Totals               28   0   3   0     1   2             Totals               26   2   2   2     1   7

Time of Game: 1:33   Attendance: 10,256
Left on Base: Braves 4, Padres 1
DP: Braves 0, Padres 2
Errors: Smith, Jones
Sacrifice Hits: Niekro (1), Bonnell (1)
GIDP: Bonnell (2)


Braves                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Niekro L(0-4)           8     2   2   2   1   7   0  27   4.50
Totals                  8     2   2   2   1   7   0  27

Padres                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Jones W(1-0)            8.1   3   0   0   1   2   0  29   2.50
Fingers SV(2)           0.2   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   3.86
Totals                  9     3   0   0   1   2   0  31

Umpires: HP - Lee Weyer, 1B - Harry Wendelstedt, 2B - Dutch Rennert, 3B - Ed Montague


BRAVES 1ST: Royster singled; Bonnell grounded into a double play
(second to first) [Royster out at second]; Gaston struck out; 0
R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

PADRES 1ST: Richards made an out to shortstop; Thomas flied out
to center; Hendrick struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0,
Padres 0.

BRAVES 2ND: Burroughs grounded out (third to first); Pocoroba
grounded out (shortstop to first); Murphy struck out; 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

PADRES 2ND: Winfield made an out to second; Gamble grounded out
(third to first); Almon struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Braves 0, Padres 0.

BRAVES 3RD: Gilbreath grounded out (third to first); Rockett
singled; Niekro out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to first)
[Rockett to second]; Royster made an out to first; 0 R, 1 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

PADRES 3RD: Smith grounded out (third to first); Davis flied out
to center; Jones grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

BRAVES 4TH: Bonnell grounded out (second to first); Gaston
grounded out (shortstop to first); Burroughs grounded out
(shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

PADRES 4TH: Richards struck out; Thomas struck out; Hendrick
flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

BRAVES 5TH: Pocoroba reached on an error by Jones [Pocoroba to
first]; Murphy lined into a double play (pitcher to first)
[Pocoroba out at first]; Gilbreath flied out to center; 0 R, 0
H, 1 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 0.

PADRES 5TH: Winfield walked; Gamble singled [Winfield to
second]; Almon flied out to left; Smith grounded out (second to
first) [Winfield to third, Gamble to second]; Davis singled
[Winfield scored, Gamble scored]; Jones struck out; 2 R, 2 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 2.

BRAVES 6TH: Rockett grounded out (shortstop to first); Niekro
flied out to left; Royster flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 2.

PADRES 6TH: Richards struck out (catcher to first); Thomas flied
out to center; Hendrick flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
 Braves 0, Padres 2.

BRAVES 7TH: Bonnell grounded out (shortstop to first); Gaston
grounded out (pitcher to first); Burroughs lined to second; 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 2.

PADRES 7TH: Winfield struck out; Gamble made an out to
shortstop; Almon flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Braves 0, Padres 2.

BRAVES 8TH: CHAMPION REPLACED GAMBLE (PLAYING 2B); THOMAS
CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING LF); Pocoroba singled; Murphy
grounded out (pitcher to first) [Pocoroba to second]; Gilbreath
flied out to right; Rockett flied out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 2.

PADRES 8TH: Smith made an out to second; Davis grounded out
(second to first); Jones grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R,
0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 2.

BRAVES 9TH: BEALL BATTED FOR NIEKRO; Beall walked; Royster
reached on an error by Smith [Beall to second, Royster to
first]; Bonnell out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to first)
[Beall to third, Royster to second]; FINGERS REPLACED JONES
(PITCHING); ASSELSTINE BATTED FOR GASTON; Asselstine grounded
out (catcher to first); Burroughs flied out to right; 0 R, 0 H,
1 E, 2 LOB.  Braves 0, Padres 2.